Moscow Central Circle reduces congestion at three local railway stations

The recently launched Moscow Central Circle (MCR) has lightened passenger traffic at the city’s Yaroslavsky, Belorussky and Savyolovsky railway stations. The Yaroslavsky Railway Station now handles 7.5 percent (about 3,000) fewer riders on working days, outpacing other railway stations in this respect.

Gamid Bulatov, First Deputy Head of Moscow’s Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development, said the Belorussky and Savyolovsky railway stations are now seeing about four percent fewer riders daily. This can be explained by the fact that MCR users no longer have to reach them in order to enter the metro..

For example, riders using the Yaroslavskaya Line of the Moscow Railway can change to the MCR’s Rostokino station from the Severyanin railway platform. The Savyolovsky Railway Station also handles fewer riders because riders have started changing to Okruzhnaya station on the MCR circuit from a railway station with the same name. People using the Belorusskaya Line of the Moscow Railway can change from the Testovskaya railway platform to the Shelepikha and Delovoi Tsentr stations of the MCR. This helps them cut their travel time because they no longer have to spend it for reaching Railway stations.

Average passenger flows have also decreased at metro stations located near railway stations, Mr Bulatov added. Congestion at Komsomolskaya station of the metro’s Circle Line has eased up by about 14 percent. Belorusskaya station, also located on the Circle Line, and Savyolovskaya station handle about five percent fewer riders. In 2015, almost 198,000 riders used Komsomolskaya station daily, and their number is now down to 187,000, now that the MCR has opened.

“Congestion has already decreased at railway stations and nearby metro stations. In 2017-2018, railway stations will handle even fewer riders, after railway platforms are linked with the MCR via heated underpasses and overpasses and after more trains start stopping at MCR transit hubs,” Mr Bulatov said.

All railway stations and MCR stations are linked by open-air crossings, with riders changing from station to station in five to 15 minutes. In 2017-2018, some platforms will be relocated closer to the MCR and linked with it via overpasses and underpasses.  

Currently, the MCR operates 29 out of its 31 stations. Koptevo, the 29th station, opened on 1 November. The Zorge and Panfilovskaya stations will open later this year. The MCR provides seamless connections to 14 metro stations and six railway platforms.